Cogliano happy to join a playoff team

Before Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle got all the hype as the players that would lead the Edmonton Oilers back to prominence, there was Andrew Cogliano.

Cogliano was a first-round pick of the Oilers just like them, only he was taken back in 2005. It was supposed to be him and Sam Gagner, their top pick in 2007, that would be part of the nucleus that would turn around a proud franchise.

Gagner is still in Edmonton but Cogliano no longer is, having been moved to the Ducks for a second-round pick in 2013. But while the Oilers are still stuck in rebuild mode, Cogliano now joins a team that's been a regular playoff participant since the day he was drafted.

"This is obviously the first time I've been traded," he said. "I'm excited. There's mixed emotions originally right away. I was just on my way to skate and [Oilers GM] Steve Tambellini called me and let me know.

"I'm excited I'm coming to a team that played in the playoffs and has great players and continually has great seasons. I think that's the ultimate goal. I want to be on a winning team and contribute."

Being traded from the only team you've been on usually carries a great deal of shock but Cogliano didn't feel the pain that others in his position often have to handle.

For two years, Cogliano has had to deal with his name coming up in trade rumors especially after it was leaked that he was part of a proposed deal with winger Dustin Penner and defenseman Ladislav Smid to Ottawa for sniper Dany Heatley. Cogliano would have been a Senator except Heatley refused to waive his no-trade clause.

Since then, Cogliano has been in the Oilers' lineup but seemingly not part of their cornerstone as newer flavors like Eberle, Hall and Magnus Paajarvi were now the preferred taste of choice among their forwards. Hence, the regular appearance in trade rumors.

"I've done my best in blocking all that stuff out," Cogliano said. "Unless I was getting a call from Tambellini telling me I was traded, rumors and this and that really didn't mean anything. All I really cared about what was what my coach thought of me.

"So when I finally heard that I got traded, I was excited because I really feel like Anaheim and [Ducks GM] Bob [Murray] wants me there to contribute. I think that's the best feeling as a player. You want someone to like your game and wants you to be there."

There is a fair amount to like. Cogliano is one of the league's fastest players, giving the Ducks a speed element that they're in short supply of among their forward corps.

Add in some fair playmaking ability and it is no wonder why the former Michigan standout was seen as someone that could become the Oilers' second-line center and provide a great deal of offense. But while Cogliano has been durable in playing 328 consecutive games since he made the 2007 opening-night roster, he also hasn't reached the 45 points he put up as a rookie.

The Ducks don't have problems scoring with a Hart Trophy winner in Corey Perry highlighting arguably the NHL's best line and, possibly, a 41-year-old in Teemu Selanne that delivered 80 points last season. Cogliano will need to provide secondary scoring that they didn't have last season but won't need to carry the whole load.

"I feel like obviously with guys like [Ryan] Getzlaf, Perry, [Bobby] Ryan, you feel like the major offensive load is kind of taken care of," Cogliano said. "Those guys are superstars in the league. Playing against them, I know how tough it is to play against those guys.

"Not only that, you have Selanne, [Saku] Koivu, you have really good players that kind of fall in behind those guys. I feel like my game has evolved. I've matured as a player. At this point of my career, especially coming off last year, I feel I'm a guy who will create offense but also has taken up the defensive side of things."

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